Bailer



May 2.6, v1936. 'Y A, A MELO 2,041,720 A A BAILER Y Filed oct. 4, 1952 lll Patented May 26, 1936 UNITED STATES BAILER August A. Melo, Taft, Calif., assgnor to Paul Cavins, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application October 4, 1932, Serial No. 636,219

3 Claims.

This invention relates to bailers and has relation more particularly to a device of this kind especially designed for use in connection with oil or other deep wells, and the invention has for its object to provide a bailer constructed in a manner to allow the ready passage therethrough of any fluid which may be standing in the bottom of the well as the bailer is lowered to remove sand or other material which may have accumulated in the hole.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this kind comprising an elongated barrel is which is mounted a tubular swab together with means operating from the top of the well for moving the swab in a direction to draw the solid material within the barrel and also operating as a means to lift the bailer out of the hole.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of this kind wherein sand or other loose solid material is drawn into the barrel of the bailer as a result of a vacuum created within the barrel and wherein such material is effectively retained within the barrel until after the bailer has been withdrawn yfrom the hole.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a device of this kind constructed and assembled in a manner whereby the bailer may be readily prevented from being held by such suction to the bottom of the hole and wherein the bailer in its construction provides an effective jarring means to release the bailer in the event it becomes stuck in the hole.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved bailer whereby certain important advantages are attained and the device rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of my invention will hereinafter be definitely claimed.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawing, whereinz Figure 1 is a View partly in section and partly in elevation of a bailer constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing certain of the parts in a second position;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view partly in section and partly in elevation illustrating in detail certain of the features of the bailer as herein disclosed;

'ing inwardly of the barrel I.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Figure 3; v

Figure 5 is a view in bottom plan of the bailer as illustrated in Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a view in elevation of the outer 5 end of one of the holding screws herein employed.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawing, I denotes a barrel of desired dimensions having the upper portion of its wall provided therethrough with the vents 2 and which is also pro- 1 vided with an internal annular shoulder 3 against which abuts a ring 4 snugly engaging within said lower lend portion of the barrel I. This ring 4 in its periphery is provided with a surrounding groove 5 and engaging within said groove 5 are the holding screws 6 preferably three in number and threaded through the wall of the barrel I. The outer end portion of each of these screws 6 is provided with a socket 'I angular in cross section and in which is adapted to be engaged a suitable key to facilitate the desired adjustments of the screw to engage the same with the applied ring 4 or to free the same from said ring so that the ring can be removed.

The central opening 8 defined by the ring 4 has 25 retrograde flow therethrough prevented by a nonreturn valve 9 herein disclosed as a ap valve coacting with the inner face of the ring 4 and open- This ap valve 9 is hingedly connected, as at I0, to the ring 4.

Mounted within the bore of the barrel I for movement lengthwise thereof is an elongated tubular swab II having disposed around and held thereto the packing cups I2 for elective coaction with the wall of the bore of the barrel I. The lower end portion of this swab I I is formed to provide a valve seat I4 with which coacts a valve member I5. This valve member I5 is carried by an end portion of a rod I6. This rod I6 is directed 40 axially through the swab I I and has its upper end portion coupled, as at I'I, to a butterfly I8.

- 'Ihis buttery I8 in turn is connected, as at I9, to the lower end portion of a rod or kindred rigid member 20 which extends to the top of the well. 'Ihe upper end of the buttery I8 provides a shoulder 2l surrounding the rod 20 and which is adapted to have contact with the inserted end of a conventional head 22 threaded or otherwise engaged within the upper portion of the barrel I, said applied head 22 serving as an anvil as will be hereinafter referred to.

The rod 2Il above the vapplied head 22 is surrounded by a spring 23 of requisite tension and which serves as a bumper for engagement with 55 the head 24 carried by the extended portion of the rod 20. v

The bailer, as herein disclosed, is primarily intended to be used to remove from the bottom of an oil or water well material, such as sand, which has accumulated in the hole and whichaccumulated material prevents efficient entry into and removal from the well of the fluid sought to be produced. As the bailer is lowered into the hole, the valve 9 is forced open by the pressure or/and resistance of the iiuid standing in the hole. At this time the valve I5 is in open position as illustrated in Figure 2 and the iluid standing in the hole passes up through the barrel I and the swab I out through the vents 2. As the bailer penetrates the accumulated material within the bottom of the hole as desired, upon withdrawal or lifting movement on the rod 2|) the valve I5 immediately engages its seat I4 at the lower end of the swab II and said valve I5 is maintained seated throughout the entire withdrawing or pulling operation. As the valve member I5 effects the upward movement of the swab II a vacuum is formed below the valve member I5 drawing within the barrel I 4from the bottom of the hole or well the solid material sought to be removed, such as sand or shale.

When the shoulder 2| at the top of the butterfly I8 reaches or contacts with the inserted or inner end of the head or anvil 22, the movement is stopped of the swab II independently of the barrel I and at which time the barrel I below the swab and its closed valve I5 is lled with the material for removal. The entire bailer is then hoisted to the top of the well for dumping.

It is to be particularly noted that in the invention as herein disclosed the valve I5 cannot fail to close due to the fact that said valve is subjected directly to the pull from the top of the hole or well through the rod 28. It is also believed to be apparent that when the bailer is being lifted the valve 9 will close and be maintained closed by the weight of the contained material within the barrel I.

When the bailer has been withdrawn from the well or hole the screws 8 are retracted to allow the ready removal of the ring 4 and the valve 9 carried thereby whereupon the material contained within the barrel I may be readily dumped therefrom.

It sometimes happens that the entire bailer becomes stuck in the bottom of the hole. By a quick jerk on the bailer the shoulder 2| of the butterfly |8 will be caused to butt against the inner or inserted end of the head or anvil 22 thus dislodging'the entire bailer. A quick jerk will also compel the required engagement of the valve member I5 with its seat I4 and thus prevent sanding up of the bailer on the inside.

The operating rod 20, the hammer 2|, and the valve I5 are capable of limited independent movement with respect to the swab I I, by reason of the fact that the distance between the valve I5 and the. butterfly I8 is greater by a substantial amount than the length of the swab II. If the barrel is stuck in the mud at the bottom of the well when the swab is drawn to its uppermost position as in Figure l, the hammer 2| may be lowered and raised sharply between the anvil 22 and the top of the swab I to strike the anvil and jar the barrel to dislodge the same from the mud. By reason of this lost motion connection, the barrel may be jarred without moving the swab upwardly to create additional suction in the barrel, and thus there will be no tendency for the barrel to become more deeply embedded as a result of the jarring action.

Upon forcing the rod 2|] downwardly at any time the valve member I5 will be moved into open position and this is of advantage when for any reason it is desired to break the vacuum or partial vacuum being formed in the barrel I below the swab II. This is particularly desirable in the event there is such suction action in the material at the bottom of the well or hole which the bailer has penetrated to have a tendency to bind or hold the bailer as an entirety to the bottom of the hole or well in such a way as to interfere with the withdrawal or lifting of the bailer.

As is particularly illustrated in the accompanying drawing, it is to be noted that the inner marginal portions of the packing cups I2 are engaged between the members 25 and 25' snugly surrounding the swab II, the lowermost member 25 being threaded on the swab and serving as a means to maintain the inner marginal portions of the cups I2 in desired assembly. Outwardly of the member 25' the swab II has threaded thereon a holding or locking member 2G which coacts with the member 25. The outer end of this member 26 as is clearly illustrated in Figure 3 is of increased thickness and the outer surface substantially ush with the adjacent lower end of the swab II and is comprised in the seat I4 for the valve member I5. It is believed to be apparent that in addition to serving as a holding or retaining medium, the member 26 can be readily replaced when it is desired to renew the seat at the lower end of the swab I for the valve member I5.

It will be noted that the. top edge of the uppermost packing cup I2 is adapted to engage the outwardly directed surface 2l on the exterior of the swab. By screwing the lowermost .nember 25 upwardly on the swab to compress the packing, the top end of the uppermost packing cup I2 will be pressed outwardly along the surface 2`| of the swab, thus serving to expand the packing at this point to insure that the swab is held firmly against the inner surface of the barrel.

If the swab has the tendency to slide up and down in the barrel, the compression of the 'packlng may be adjusted by the lowermost threaded ring 25 in order to hold the swab stationary against the inner surface of the barrel except when it is positively moved by the valve member I5 or the butterfly I8.

If the lower end of the barrel becomes stuck in the mud as discussed above, and when the swab is moved by the Valve member I5 to its upper- ,most position, the compressed packing will hold the swab against vertical movement with respect to the barrel while the rod 20 is being lowered and raised sharply to impact the hammer 2| against the anvil 22 to dislodge the barrel from the mud.

lFrom the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that a bailer constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of lthe convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated, and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible'of some change and modication without departing from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several prising a barrel having a bottom inlet, an anvil connected to said barrel, a swabA frictionally mounted in and adapted for longitudinal movement in said barrel to draw material through the bottom inlet, means extending from within the barrel to the exterior thereof for moving said swab in said barrel, said means being capable of limited independent movement with respect to said swab, and a hammer carried by said means and by reason of said independent movement adapted to impact said anvil to dislodge the barrel when stuck in the well without moving said swab with respect to said barrel while the hammer is being impacted.

2. A device of the character described comprising a barrel having a. bottom inlet, a swab frictionally mounted in and adapted for longitudinal movement in said barrel to draw material through the bottom inlet, a top for said barrel to limit the upward movement of said swab, and means extending from within the barrel to the exterior thereof for moving said swab in said barrel, said means being capable of limited independent movement with respect to said swab barrel while the hammer is being impacted.

without moving said swab with respect to said barrel.

3. A device of the character described comprising a barrel having a bottom inlet, an anvil connected to said barrel, a swab frictionally mount- 5 ed in and adapted for longitudinal movement in said barrel to draw material through the bottom inlet, said swab having a fluid passage therethrough, operating means extending through the swab passage for moving said swab in said barrel and having limited movement independent of said swab, a member carried at the lower end of said operating means to open the swab passage on movement of said means in one direction and to close the swab passage on movement in the opposite direction, said member acting upon'further movement of said operating means in said opposite direction to move said swab in the barrel, and a hammer carried by said operating means and by reason of said independent movement adapted to impact said anvil to dislodge the barrel when stuck in the well, without moving and means to hold said swab with respect to said AUGUST A. MELO.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 2,041,720.' May 2e, 193e.

AUGUST A. MELO.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed speoifoation of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 3, second column, lines 22 and 23, claim I5, strike out the words "and means to nold"; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this oorreoton therein that the same may Conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 27th day of April, A. D. 1957.

Leslie Frazer (SM1) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

